Conan: Ran turns into an elementary school student and calls me dad.

Chapter 62 Sonoko's Bento

With Hayashi Hideichi's patient persuasion, Takei Naoko's tense body gradually relaxed, and her flustered expression slowly calmed down.

She sat back down on the sofa and, haltingly, revealed the secret she had kept hidden in her heart.

Just as Lin Xiuyi had guessed, she had feelings for her father's secretary, Hanai Akiko, that went far beyond what a junior would have for an elder.

"Ms. Hanai is a very nice person. She is very gentle with me, talks to me, remembers that I don't eat cilantro, and takes care of me when I am sick."

Naoko Takei lowered her eyes, her tone full of dependence, then tinged with a hint of loss and unease.

"But I can't understand what she thinks of me. Sometimes, I feel that there is a hint of disgust and disdain in her eyes when she looks at me, as if I have done something wrong..."

"If that's the case, why not just ask directly?"

Judy couldn't help but suggest it, and her tone softened.

"Perhaps you've misunderstood? Sometimes the message conveyed by your eyes isn't necessarily your true thoughts."

"I...I dare not."

Naoko Takei lowered her head, her voice hesitant and timid.

"My mother is seriously ill and hospitalized, and my father doesn't care about her at all. Miss Hanai is the only person I can rely on."

"I'm afraid... afraid that if I ask her, she'll admit she hates me, and then I'll really be all alone."

At this point, tears welled up in the girl's eyes, and a look of despair and helplessness appeared on her face, which was heartbreaking.

"How about this?"

Lin Xiuyi pondered for a moment and then offered an idea.

"Invite Ms. Hanai to the school tomorrow and tell her that the school wants to discuss your academic progress with your parents. Your father is so busy that he probably won't come in person, so he will ask Ms. Hanai to attend on his behalf."

"That way, she shouldn't refuse. Once she gets to school, I'll help you find out what she thinks. Some things, if kept bottled up inside, will only get more confusing. Be brave and find the answer; maybe the result will be what you expect?"

"Well... okay."

Naoko Takei remained silent for a long time, but finally nodded gently after being encouraged by Hideichi Hayashi.

After agreeing on a meeting time, Naoko Takei bowed deeply to Hideichi Hayashi and walked briskly out of the counseling room.

After the girl left, Judy leaned against the edge of the table and couldn't help but sigh, "I never imagined that a girl who seemed so quiet, well-behaved, and sensible on the surface would have such worries in her heart."

"Mental health issues are never written on your face."

Lin Xiuyi shrugged, her tone carrying a hint of clarity.

"Often, the more normal and cheerful a person appears on the surface, the more and more serious the emotions and problems they have inside; they're just used to pretending."

The two chatted for a few minutes, and before they knew it, it was past noon.

Because of Naoko Takei's delay, the Teitan High School cafeteria must be packed with people by now, with no empty seats to be found.

Lin Xiuyi planned to take Judy out for lunch, but as soon as he pushed open the door of the counseling room, he saw Sonoko standing at the door with one hand holding a lunchbox and the other hand raised in the air, obviously preparing to knock.

"Uncle! I didn't see you in the cafeteria, so I brought you lunch."

Sonoko proudly waved the lunchbox in her hand, her face full of self-satisfaction.

But when she saw Judy next to Lin Xiuyi, the smile on her face instantly froze, and she then showed a bit of embarrassment, scratching her head and saying apologetically, "Sorry, sorry, I forgot about Miss Judy..."

"It's okay, it's not the first time I've been ignored."

Judy raised an eyebrow, her expression a half-smile, and said...

"I was also looking for a change of pace, so I ate outside of school."

The female secretary was very perceptive; after speaking, she turned and quickly left, leaving the two of them alone.

Lin Xiuyi took the lunchbox from Yuanzi, opened the lid, and without caring what the dishes were, picked up his chopsticks and began to eat with relish.

Sonoko sat on a chair to the side, swinging her legs gently with her toes occasionally touching the ground. While watching Lin Xiuyi eat, she chattered about her worries.

"Uncle, Xiaolan has been abroad for over a week, and that guy hasn't called me even once!"

She made a joke, her tone tinged with reproach.

"Do you think she might have met some handsome guy abroad and is so infatuated that she's forgotten all about her best friend?"

Seeing Lin Xiuyi smiling at her, Yuanzi stopped joking, her tone gradually becoming serious, revealing genuine worry.

"To be honest, Xiaolan has always been a stubborn girl, keeping everything bottled up inside. I'm really worried about her, afraid she won't be able to accept that Aunt Fei is with you, and that she'll be secretly sad."

As she spoke, she glared at Lin Xiuyi angrily, her tone tinged with resentment.

"It's all your fault, uncle!"

"Sometimes, you really can't control your feelings."

Lin Xiuyi put down her chopsticks and gave a wry smile.

"But then again, since you think I'm the one who ruined your best friend's life, why don't you hate me at all, and why did you even bring me lunch?"

"Hmph, uncle, how did you know I brought you food out of kindness?"

Sonoko's eyes darted around, and she let out two strange laughs, deliberately lowering her voice.

"Actually, I already put a ton of laxatives in your food, just to get revenge on you!"

"Is that so?" Lin Xiuyi replied calmly, then picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of golden chicken, and put it in his mouth, still enjoying it.

"Uncle, aren't you scared?"

Sonoko stared at him wide-eyed, her face full of surprise, clearly not expecting this reaction.

"If I really put laxatives in, you're in big trouble later!"

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Lin Xiuyi put down her chopsticks, smiled slightly at the garden,

"If it's something you send me, Sonoko, even if it contains poison, I will eat it without hesitation."

"Besides, Sonoko, you're so kind and lovely, how could you really do something like this to tease someone?"

Perhaps it was because Lin Xiuyi's praise was too sincere, or perhaps it was because his gaze was too gentle, but Sonoko's fair and delicate face instantly turned bright red, and even the roots of her ears turned pink.

The girl looked shy, her eyes darting away nervously, not daring to look at Lin Xiuyi again.

But she forced herself to remain calm, slammed her hand on the table, and warned in a deliberately serious tone, "Uncle! I've already said it, there's no future for us! Don't say those flattering things to me anymore, it's useless!"

Trying to please a girl?

Lin Xiuyi's expression was somewhat subtle. He wasn't pursuing a girl; he was simply praising his daughter.

After issuing her warning, Sonoko couldn't help but stare at Lin Xiuyi with curiosity, her eyes asking strangely.

"It's really strange, I don't know why, but every time I see you, I feel especially close to you, and it's very relaxing to chat with you. I want to tell you everything, just like... just like talking to family."